July 13, 2022 | From City of New Orleans
CANTRELL ADMINISTRATION ISSUES STATEMENTS ON NOLA COALITION’S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY
NEW ORLEANS – Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration today issued statements regarding the NOLA Coalition’s recent commitment to improve public safety in the city. Commissioner Tenisha Stevens of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Coordination and Emily Wolff, director of the Office of Youth and Families, spoke in support of the NOLA Coalition’s efforts to supplement existing City programs through financial assistance.
"The Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice Coordination and this administration is laser-focused on holistically addressing the rise in violence and harm that is occurring in our city. Yet, even though combatting violence is the principal priority of public safety officials, we cannot do it alone. It will take all of us to ensure that all of our people can live, work, and grow in environments where they are safe and can thrive," said Commissioner Stevens. "Therefore, it is reassuring to see that recommendations that have been put out by our community leaders align with the initiatives that this administration is currently taking to combat the rise in violence. This synergy is undoubtedly demonstrated in the Violence Reduction Strategies report, now available, which details the evidenced-based practices the City has employed to reduce violence. Combatting violence is the top priority of public safety officials in this city, and we remain appreciative of our community partners who continue to uplift our strategies to advance public safety and work with us to build a better New Orleans that addresses the needs of all our people."
“The Mayor's Office of Youth and Families is thrilled to hear of the NOLA Coalition's commitment to raising $15 million to support and scale community-based organizations' work in alignment with the citywide Youth Master Plan,” said Wolff. “We firmly believe that our young people are not the problem—they are the solution. This is why the Office of Youth and Families, in partnership with the Children and Youth Planning Board, published the Youth Master Plan, which serves as our collective roadmap for how to transform conditions for families in our city over the next decade. We commend business leaders, philanthropic organizations and private sector actors for stepping up to put significant resources behind strategies that will address the root causes of crime. We look forward to working with the United Way and others to carry out this vital work.”
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